Devonport v South Hobart (NPL)

85′ Devonport dropping plenty of numbers back now and look content to see it out, South unable to break them down and not looking particularly threatening at the moment.

76′ GOAL! 2-0! Tyler Fischer, again on the counter, Wicks feeds it through to him and he races in on goal and buries it!

69′ GOAL! 1-0 Devonport! A quick counter attack yields a goal! Mann chips it over the top to Fischer, who rounds Brown and strokes it home!

65′ Kemp somehow gets around Smith in the box on the by line and looks to cross but Zaikos dives out and collects before the South player can tap in.

62′ Slice of Cheese, for Thomas for a late challenge. Mann curls the resulting free kick straight at Brown.

61′ Wicks with a sloppy pass that allows Schmidt in, who smashes a cross in that Kemp stretches for at the back post but can’t direct in.

53′ Sub- Alex Walter replaced by Jacob Leaman

52′ Shot off! Morton smashes a drive just wide of the post.

51′ Smith switches the play to Bidwell who crosses for Mann, who nods a header over the bar.

46′ Kick off, back underway, can either side land the knock out blow? Surely a goal has to come eventually, the game has been open and the chances flowing so I’d be staggered if it ended 0-0.

Half Time and 0-0 here at Valley Road, A thoroughly entertaining first 45 with no shortage of chances and both sides playing a nice attacking brand of football. Has been end to end with both goalkeepers having fantastic performances to keep things level. Devonport have shaded it so far but it could go either way.

39′ Dance, with a drive from range that is easily collected by Brown.

35′ Brown sharp off his line to get in ahead of Fischer after a lovely chipped through ball from Holden, who is really starting to come into the game.

Terrific games this, real end to end affair, somehow we are still scorless though, thanks largely to both goalkeepers.

31′ Save! Zaikos makes a top drawer save to deny Morton who smashed a rebound from another wicked Kemp corner.

21′ Shot off! Fischer charges through one on one and drives it just wide of the post.

17′ Save! Zaikos denies Walter in a one on one after Reynolds failed to clear, made good contact with the shot but a fine save.

8′ Shot on! Ficher plays through to Mann who is one on one with Brown who spreads himself and makes a huge save.

5′ Shot on! Cleared off the line by Adam Gorrie, a wonderful corner was swung in and a goal bound header is denied by the former Striker.

Welcome to Valley Road for this massive Round 6 clash between Devonport and South Hobart in a top four duel, Andrew Cooling blogging and calling what should be a cracking game. Valley Road is always a tough road trip for anyone to travel to and even though South Hobart are flying at present, they face a tough task taking away points against an exciting young Devonport side. Plenty of interesting story lines here, the Strikers were South’s ultimate nemesis in 2016 and of course you have Gorrie in his first game against his former side, along with Brayden Mann who spent a number of successful seasons at South. Sun is shining and it’s a perfect day for football, looking forward to this one.

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The appetite for a professional sporting franchise down here remains as ravenous as ever. Tasmanian’s love their sport and they have been starved of representation in National competitions, looked over time after time. The AFL clearly won’t be the ones to sate that hunger, thus FFA finds itself with the chance to both fill that gap in the market and strike a blow against the AFL in one fell swoop.